Thailand marriage equality – bill passes in lower house recognising same-sex marriage

Thailand’s lower house has passed a bill giving legal recognition to same-sex marriage. 

It will next head to the Senate and then need a royal endorsement to become law. But it’s widely expected to pass by the end of 2024 and will make Thailand the only Southeast Asian country to recognise same-sex unions. 

This historic step takes the country one step closer to marriage equality. Thailand has a reputation for being a haven for LGBTQ+ couples in the region. 

“This is the beginning of equality. It’s not a universal cure to every problem but it’s the first step towards equality,” Danuphorn Punnakanta, an MP and chairman of the lower house’s committee on marriage equality, told parliament while presenting a draft of the bill. “This law wants to return these rights to this group of people, not grant them the rights.”

The law was passed by 400 of 415 of lawmakers present. It will describe marriage as a partnership between two people, instead of between a man and a woman. It will also give same-sex couples equal rights to get marital tax savings, to inherit property and to give medical treatment consent for partners who are incapacitated. 

Under the law, married same-sex couples will also be able to adopt. However, the lower house did not approve the committee’s suggestion to use the term “parents” instead of “fathers and mothers”. 

Thailand LGBT friendly image ‘cemented’

Thailand already has LGBTQ+-friendly laws that ban discrimination over gender identity and sexual orientation. But it has taken years to get close to marriage equality, with past attempts failing despite broad public support. 

A government survey last year showed that 96.6% of those polled were in favour of the bill.